A historical account of vilified emperor Qin Shihuangdi of the third century B.C.E. offers insight into his military leadership and influential legacy, a reign that saw the introduction of coinage, standardized measures, and the written word

Introduction: elephants, steamed duck and warring states -- The heart of a tiger or wolf -- The grand scribe's records and the place of the sleeping tiger -- The cunning councillor -- Cowboys and indians or Confucianism and Legalism -- The height of legal responsibility -- This species of fortification: the Great Wall -- The burning of the books -- Making everything the same -- The supreme forest and the hall of 10,000 guests -- The drugs of immortality -- Seas of mercury, pearl stars and an army of 8,000 men -- The First Emperor and the Great Helmsman